Comparative toxicity of novel insecticides against Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)

Abstract

The present investigation on comparative toxicity of novel insecticides against laboratory reared and field collected populations of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) was undertaken during the year 2022-23 in Department of Entomology, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. Toxicity of eight different insecticides was evaluated by leaf dip method of bioassay against third instar larvae of S. litura laboratory reared population and field population collected from Sundernagar. On the basis of the LC 50 values obtained, the results revealed that the toxicity order against S. litura laboratory reared population was emamectin benzoate > indoxacarb > thiodicarb > azadirachtin > novaluron > spinosad > flubendiamide > cypermethrin. Similar trend in toxicity order was observed against field collected population of S. litura i.e., emamectin benzoate > indoxacarb > azadirachtin > thiodicarb > novaluron > spinosad > flubendiamide > cypermethrin. The baseline toxicity data obtained during the present investigations indicated that emamectin benzoate and indoxacarb were the most toxic to S. litura third instar larvae when tested by leaf dip method of bioassay. Cypermethrin was found to be least toxic against both the laboratory reared and field population collected from Sundernagar.